Detroit Nightmare' in Berkley benefits charity

By TOM WATTS

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

What started out as a typical suburban kid loving the Halloween tradition has grown into a “Detroit Nightmare” in Berkley, where donations are made to charity and a house is transformed into a haunted mansion for an appreciative neighborhood.

“We started it 12 years ago at my parent’s house in Huntington Woods, real small,” said Charles Brandt, the “scary” mind behind the idea for a community haunted house. “As a kid, I loved houses that were decorated, scary, and thought it would be fun to start one with my friends.”

From the skeleton that greets you to the traditional handing out of the candy by three witches, Halloween-goers in this Berkley neighborhood are offered a free haunted house to put a fun scare into the kids.

“Best reason why we started it is because we wanted to provide a safe place to go and get a good scare, but also without charging people, like you see these big places are upping the prices,” Brandt said. “We wanted a legitimate haunted house where you’re going to see actors, be scared and then being able to trick or treat around the neighborhood.”

The themed “Detroit Nightmare” will be open at the Brandt’s home at 2344 Cummings from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween Night only. It’s free, with donations accepted to Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

“This year we have 50 confirmed actors,” Brandt said. “It is located outside; you go up the driveway to the back yard, to the garage and out again. The line usually goes fast. People go though it at a quick pace.”

Each of the 15 rooms is themed differently, such as clown, corn stalker, graveyard, and doll’s room.
“It’s different every year,” he said. “We have 15 separate rooms. This year we have new rooms where people haven’t been scared before. They’re a secret.”

The family passes out candy, too. And, considering over 1,100 folks passed through the door last year, Brandt is preparing for all his friends and neighbors, and maybe even kids who always wanted to go.

“We know a lot of families are bringing their kids around,” Brandt said. “Some kids don’t choose to go through it. They take candy and do not go through the hunted house, and that’s fine.

“It’s for charity now,” he continued. “We are doing it for the Spirit of Children.”

Spirit of Children is a program working with Spirit Halloween stores where donations will ultimately be provided to Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

“It’s great – the donations will go to purchase computers, TVs, costumes, crafts, to bring joy to these kids there at the hospital,” Brandt said.

What started out as an adolescent fascination for everything Halloween has turned into a labor of love.

“We love it and honestly I would not have been able to do it without support of my family, my wife Sean, my parents and friends, and now our 7-month old, Lily,” Brandt said. “They donate their personal time.
“It’s an incredible group of people and we have a lot of fun. People just feed off the amazing reaction. It’s a great time Halloween night and something everyone remembers.”

WHERE IS IT?

Find “Detroit Nightmare” at the Brandt’s home at 2344 Cummings (at Oxford). It is north of 11 Mile and east of Greenfield in Berkley.